Information handling system totem with frictional tethering

ABSTRACT

An information handling system totem input device maintains position on an articulating touchscreen display by selectively engaging friction members at the totem bottom surface with the touchscreen display surface. A capacitive sensor integrated in the totem senses end user touch and/or proximity to extend the friction members when an end user releases the totem. In one embodiment, the amount of extension and associated frictional resistance provided by the friction members adjusts based upon lateral acceleration sensed by accelerometers in the totem or in the display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of informationhandling system input devices, and more particularly to informationhandling system totem with frictional tethering.

Description of the Related Art

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individualsand businesses seek additional ways to process and store information.One option available to users is information handling systems. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or otherpurposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of theinformation. Because technology and information handling needs andrequirements vary between different users or applications, informationhandling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled,how the information is handled, how much information is processed,stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the informationmay be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in informationhandling systems allow for information handling systems to be general orconfigured for a specific user or specific use such as financialtransaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage,or global communications. In addition, information handling systems mayinclude a variety of hardware and software components that may beconfigured to process, store, and communicate information and mayinclude one or more computer systems, data storage systems, andnetworking systems.

Information handling systems often interact with end users throughtouchscreen displays. For example, smartphones and tablets integrate adisplay in one face of a planar housing that has a touchscreen for useas the primary input device. End users make inputs at touches todisplayed user interfaces, such as by performing typed inputs through adisplay keyboard interface. When in a desktop location, peripheraldevices may interact with the information handling system to offeradditional input options, such as a peripheral keyboard or mouseinterfacing through wired or wireless communications. Generally, tabletinformation handling systems have offered end users the advantage ofportability with the system having a convenient large display face forconsuming information.

More recently, all-in-one information handling systems have providedlarger display touchscreen sizes in a tablet form factor. The largertouchscreen surface provides a greater working area in which an end usercan perform touch inputs, such as drawing with a stylus. In essence, theend user's desktop becomes a user interface that accepts touch inputsand translates the touch inputs to digital information, such as CADdrawings. The desktop touchscreen input area can also operate withperipheral devices, such as a vertical display that presents applicationand operating system information to allow an end user to employ thedesktop touchscreen display area for making inputs. By having thetouchscreen display disposed horizontally on a desktop surface, an enduser have a drawing surface area on which to rest his arm and hand whileperforming inputs. Further improved ergonomics are provided by tiltingthe desktop touchscreen display to provide an angled inputs surface,such as with a stand that lifts the display side opposite the end user.In some instances, an artist easel may hold the touchscreen display toprovide the end user with a variety of tilt angles for making inputs. Byinteracting with the display touchscreen through a precise pen-stylus,the end user may create hand drawn inputs saved to digital formats forconvenient art and design work.

In addition to offering a convenient input surface, a touchscreendisplay offers an interface that interacts with a variety of differentlow-cost tools. One example is the precision pen-stylus mentioned abovethat writes inputs detected at the capacitive surface of the touchscreendisplay. Another example of a low-cost tool that leverages thehorizontal touch surface is a totem that an end user interacts with tomake inputs as touches to the display. For example, a totem has an uppersurface that an end user grasps to accept large or small body movements,such as arm motion of the totem across the display, rotation of thetotem in one location at the display and tilting of the totem in onelocation at the display. The touchscreen display tracks totem inputs bycomparing the shape of touches on the screen against known totemfootprints. More precise totem tracking is provided through capacitivetouchpoints disposed on the totem bottom surface so that the totemlocation and orientation are available by comparison to known, precisetotem touchpoints. Totems adapt to a wide variety of tasks by usingvarying shapes and sizes that end users inherently understand. Onedifficulty that can arise with totems is that an end user who tilts ahorizontally-disposed display can induce movement of the totem acrossthe display, such as when gravity causes the totem to slide from a highto a low location. Unintended movements disrupt the workspace,potentially performing unintended inputs and displacing pausedinteractions where an end user leaves a tilted display for a temporarydistraction intending to pick up an ongoing task where it was left off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a need has arisen for a system and method which managesplacement of devices on a touchscreen between end user interactions.

In accordance with the present invention, a system and method areprovided which substantially reduce the disadvantages and problemsassociated with previous methods and systems for managing devices placedon a touchscreen between end user interactions. Friction membersselectively extend and retract from a totem input device based uponconditions sensed at the totem and/or touchscreen display, such asmeasurement of touch capacitance at the totem.

More specifically, an information handling system processes informationwith processing components that accept inputs from a totem input devicedisposed on a touchscreen display. A touch controller interfaced withthe touch screen detects the totem footprint and discerns end userinputs made at the totem and translated through touches at thetouchscreen. Articulation of the touchscreen between horizontal andelevated orientations generates a gravitational related lateralacceleration that can introduce unintended motion of the totem.Capacitive sensing at the totem detects release of the totem at thetouchscreen to extend friction members from the bottom surface of thetotem, increasing frictional resistance of the totem to lateralaccelerations that induce unintended movements. In one embodiment, thenumber of friction members and degree of extension of the frictionmembers depends upon sensed accelerations that indicate lateral forcespresent at the touchscreen display. In various embodiments, extensionand retraction of friction members may be performed with solenoid ormicrofluidic devices that adapt the totem bottom surface to achievedesired touchscreen display interactions.

The present invention provides a number of important technicaladvantages. One example of an important technical advantage is that aninteractive device placed on a touchscreen display remains in anexpected position when released by an end user. For example, a totemused by an end user on a horizontally-disposed touchscreen displayselectively increases friction of a bottom surface on release by the enduser so that the totem remains in position unless moved by the end user.In one embodiment, capacitive sensing at the totem outer surface detectstouch and release by the end user to automatically adjust friction atthe totem base to work against gravity-induced movement from a tilteddisplay surface. An extending member at the base of the totem increasesfriction by extending out of the base to press against the touchscreendisplay, such as with a solenoid or microfluid activation. In oneembodiment, the amount of additional friction may vary to adapt to theamount of tilt of the touchscreen display, such as by usingaccelerometer sensed conditions to determine the distance that anextending member presses out towards a display or, alternatively, thenumber of extending members to press outward. As an end user approachesand touches the totem, retraction of the extending members transitionsthe totem to a user state that accepts inputs from the end user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerousobjects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in theart by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the samereference number throughout the several figures designates a like orsimilar element.

FIG. 1 depicts an expanded view of an information handling system havinga horizontally disposed display configured to accept inputs from a totemdevice with configurable friction settings;

FIG. 2 depicts a block diagram of a totem device having configurablefriction settings that adjust based upon capacitive sensing of an enduser touch; and

FIG. 3 depicts a flow diagram of a process for managing toteminteractions at a horizontally-disposed display.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An information handling system totem input device disposed on atouchscreen display selectively extends and retracts friction members tomanage totem movement related to articulation of the touchscreendisplay. For purposes of this disclosure, an information handling systemmay include any instrumentality or aggregate of instrumentalitiesoperable to compute, classify, process, transmit, receive, retrieve,originate, switch, store, display, manifest, detect, record, reproduce,handle, or utilize any form of information, intelligence, or data forbusiness, scientific, control, or other purposes. For example, aninformation handling system may be a personal computer, a networkstorage device, or any other suitable device and may vary in size,shape, performance, functionality, and price. The information handlingsystem may include random access memory (RAM), one or more processingresources such as a central processing unit (CPU) or hardware orsoftware control logic, ROM, and/or other types of nonvolatile memory.Additional components of the information handling system may include oneor more disk drives, one or more network ports for communicating withexternal devices as well as various input and output (I/O) devices, suchas a keyboard, a mouse, and a video display. The information handlingsystem may also include one or more buses operable to transmitcommunications between the various hardware components.

Referring now to FIG. 1, an expanded view depicts an informationhandling system 10 having a horizontally disposed display 30 configuredto accept inputs from a totem device 34 with configurable frictionsettings. In the example embodiment, information handling system 10 hasan all-in-one configuration with processing components integrated in aplanar housing 12 and covered by horizontal display touchscreen 30.Information handling system 10 as a horizontal disposition andinterfaces with a peripheral vertical display 32. In alternativeembodiments, processing components may be disposed in a housing separatefrom horizontal display touchscreen 30. In the example embodiment, amotherboard 14 integrates in housing 12 to interface processingcomponents. A central processing unit (CPU) 16 executes instructions toprocess information stored in random access memory (RAM) 18, such asinstructions of an operating system or application retrieved frompersistent memory of a solid state drive (SSD) 20. A graphics processingunit (GPU) 24 receives visual information processed by CPU 16 andtranslates the visual information into pixel values that define visualimages presented at displays 30 and 32. A touch controller 26 receivestouch information detected by a touchscreen within display 30, such as acapacitive sensor, and provides the touch information to CPU 16 asinputs. For example, a chipset 22 includes and embedded controller andembedded code that manages inputs for communication to the CPU 16 suchas inputs made through keyboards and mice in addition to touchscreeninputs.

In the example embodiment, an end user performs inputs at displaytouchscreen 30 by touching user interfaces presented by an operatingsystem or application executing on CPU 16. A totem input device 34offers a physical object that an end user interacts with to performinputs at display 30. For instance, an end user slides or rotates totem34 to generate touches distinguishable by touch controller 26 asgenerated by totem 34. An application executing on CPU 16 receives andinterprets touches from totem 34 to manage inputs intended by an enduser. In some instances, touches and totem inputs at display 30 interactwith user interfaces at other display devices 32. An articulating stand36 disposed below display 30 raises one edge of display 30 to provide anend user with an angled input surface. The amount of tilt provided bystand 36 may vary from zero to, in some instances 90 degrees.

One difficulty with articulation of display 30 is that totem 34 canslide laterally clue to gravitational accelerations generated by tiltingof display 30, resulting in inadvertent inputs as totem 34 moves acrossdisplay 30 and, in some instances, totem 34 falling off of display 30.In order to manage totem 34 when left at rest, end user touch and/orproximity to totem 34 is monitored so that friction members integratedin totem 34 can interact with display 30 to restrict motion of totem 34.For example, when an end user is not touching totem 34, extendingfriction members out of a bottom surface of totem 34 reduces freedom ofmovement of totem 34 across display 30 so that unintended inputs areless likely to occur. End user touch at totem 34 may be detected withcapacitive sensing integrated in totem 34, as set forth below, and/orwith other cues available to information handling system 10, such astouches by an end user hand or arm on display 30, images captured by acamera, or related indications. Additional friction introduced at totem34 by extension of friction members may be adapted to the amount of tiltcreated by articulating stand 36. For example, the number of frictionmembers and the amount of friction member extension may increase asdisplay 30 tilt angle increases so that additional frictional resistanceis provided to counteract increase lateral accelerations. In oneembodiment, accelerometers integrated in information handling system 10,such as in chipset 22, monitor tilt-related lateral accelerations andcommunicate with totem 34, such as through Bluetooth, so thatappropriate levels of frictional resistance are created at totem 34. Forexample, an input device monitor 28 executing as embedded code on aprocessor within chipset 22 monitors conditions at information handlingsystem 10 and communicates wirelessly with totem 34 to adjust frictiongenerated by totem 34 bottom surface to adapt to detected conditions. Inthe event that tilt angle of display 30 generates lateral gravitationalaccelerations, in excess of expected frictional resistance related toextension of friction member extension, a user interface 38 presents awarning to the end user that totem 34 may fall. Further, when lateralaccelerations are present and an end user touch at totem 34 is notpresent, inputs detected at display 30 related to movement of totem 34are disregarded at information handling system 10, such as by discardingtouches detected at display 30 that are associated with a footprint oftotem 34.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram depicts a totem device 34having configurable friction settings that adjust based upon capacitivesensing of an end user touch. In the example embodiment, totem 34integrates a friction member 40 extended out of a bottom surface with asolenoid 42. In addition, a friction member 44 extends out across abottom surface of totem 34 with pressurization of a microfluidicreservoir 46 that inflates a circular bladder 44 or other type of shape.Friction members 40 and 44 have an increased coefficient of frictionrelative to other materials of the bottom surface of totem 34 so thatextension of the friction member increases resistance of totem 34 tomovement. Solenoid 34 may extend friction member 40 by variable amountsso that increase extension results in increased frictional resistance,or may have binary on and off positions. Similarly, variations inpressure at microfluidic reservoir 46 may result in varied amounts offriction. In various alternative embodiments different numbers and typesof friction members may be integrated into totem 34 so that, forinstance, different amounts of frictional resistance may be generated byextending different numbers of frictional members. In this way,frictional resistance adapts to the amount of lateral accelerations sothat at initial touch by an end user, totem 34 will move in an expectedmanner while friction members are retracted. For instance, a totem 34 ona highly tilted surface will remain in place when not touched withsubstantial friction member extension, however, totem 34 will moveacross display 34 without an end user applying excessive force so that atransition is provided while totem 34 retracts friction members.

In the example embodiment, totem 34 integrates a controller 48 operatingon a battery 50 that manages extension and retraction of frictionmembers 40 and or 44 based upon sensed conditions of a capacitive sensor54 or other sensors, such as accelerometers. A wireless networkinterface card (WNIC) 52 interfaces with controller 48 so thatinformation handling system 10 can directly control friction memberextension and retraction through wireless communication. Embedded codeon controller 48 interfaces with capacitive sensor 54 to determinedetection of a touch at totem 34 or proximity of a touch withcapacitance at totem 34. When a touch is detected, friction members 40and 44 are retracted such as be activation of solenoid 42 orde-pressurization of microfluidic reservoir 46 so that frictionalresistance of totem 34 relative to display 30 is decreased during enduser inputs. In one embodiment, proximity sensing by capacitive sensor54 provides an indication of an expected touch to release frictionbefore an end user grasps totem 34. For instance, detection of a touchproximity at totem 34 on the downhill side might release totem 34 sothat it drops into the end user grasp while proximity on the uphill sideof totem 34 may be disregarded until a full touch is detected. Therelative lateral gravitational-related force may be discerned fromaccelerometer sensing within totem 34 that detects the tilt of display30 or may be communicated from information handling system 10. In oneembodiment, plural friction members disposed at totem 34 bottom surfacemay extend variable amounts with a greater amount of extension andassociated friction on an uphill side of totem 34 so that any lateralmovement will tend to maintain the orientation of totem 34 with thegreatest frictional resistance aligned to the highest elevation ofdisplay 30.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a flow diagram depicts a process for managingtotem interactions at a horizontally-disposed display. The processstarts at step 56 with friction members of the totem extended to provideresistance to movement of the totem. At step 58, a touch or proximity totouch is detected at the totem. In response, at step 60, frictionmembers of the totem are retracted into the totem to provide movement ofthe totem. At step 62, accelerations are detected and monitored at thetotem. Accelerations may indicate end user inputs and also the relativelateral alignment of the totem and display on which the totem rests. Forexample, during movement accelerations match changes in touch detectionat display 30. When in a resting position, accelerations provide therelative axis to gravitational force so that the tilt angle of thedisplay may be determined. At step 64, during touches by an end userfriction members may be adjusted to manage totem feel to the end user asthe end user moves the totem across the display. For example, if an enduser has a light touch on the totem resting on a highly-tilted display,increased frictional engagement provides resistance to unintended inputsfor an improved end user experience.

At step 66 a determination is made of whether a touch is detected. Ifyes, the process returns to step 62 to continue monitoring accelerationsand adjusting frictional engagement to optimize the end user experience.If a touch is no longer detected, the process continues to the step 68to extend the friction members so that the totem engages the displaywith sufficient frictional resistance to prevent unintended movementsinduced by lateral accelerations related to display tilt. At step 70,accelerations are monitored at the totem to detect movements thatindicate insufficient frictional resistance. If movement is detected, atstep 72 friction member adjustment is performed to increase frictionalresistance. In one embodiment, if no motion is detected and sensedaccelerations indicate that less frictional engagement will hold totem34 in place, friction member extension may be decrease. At step 74 adetermination is made of whether a touch or touch proximity is detected.If not, the process returns to step 68 to extend the friction members.If touch is detected, the process continues to step 60 to retract thefriction members.

Although the present invention has been described in detail, it shouldbe understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can bemade hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information handling system comprising: aprocessor operable to execute instructions that process information; atouchscreen display interfaced with the processor, the touchscreendisplay operable to detect touches and report the touches to theprocessor; an input device disposed on the touchscreen display andhaving a predetermined footprint detected as a touch by the touchscreendisplay and reported to the processor; a capacitive sensor integrated inthe input device and operable to detect touches at the input device; anda friction member disposed at a bottom surface of the input device andinterfaced with the capacitive sensor, the friction member retractinginto the input device in response to touch detected by the capacitivesensor and extending out of the input device in response topredetermined conditions detected at the input device; wherein thecapacitive sensor further comprises a proximity sensor that detects enduser proximity before an end user touch; and the friction memberretracts at a predetermined proximity.
 2. The information handlingsystem of claim 1 further comprising: a solenoid coupled to the inputdevice and the friction member; wherein the solenoid activates to extendand retract the friction member.
 3. The information handling system ofclaim 1 further comprising: a microfluidic reservoir integrated in theinput device and interfaced with the friction member; wherein themicrofluidic reservoir pressurizes to extend and depressurizes toretract the friction member.
 4. The information handling system of claim1 further comprising: one or more accelerometers integrated in the inputdevice and interfaced with the friction member; wherein thepredetermined conditions comprise accelerations sensed by the one ormore accelerometers.
 5. The information handling system of claim 4wherein the friction member extends by variable amounts to createvariable amounts of friction working against the touchscreen display,the amount of the extending based at least in part on accelerationsdetected by the one or more accelerometers.
 6. The information handlingsystem of claim 4 further comprising: an input device monitor executingon the processor and interfaced with the one or more accelerometers; andan input device user interface presented at the touchscreen display bythe input device monitor that warns of input device separation from thetouchscreen display if sensed accelerations exceed a predeterminedcondition.
 7. The information handling system of claim 6 furthercomprising plural friction members that extend from the input device,the number of friction members extending from the input device based atleast upon accelerations sensed at the input device.
 8. The informationhandling system of claim 1 wherein: the input device communicates to theprocessor upon detection of the predetermined conditions; and inresponse to the predetermined conditions, the processor discards inputsassociated with the input device.
 9. A method for managing totemsdisposed on an information handling system touchscreen display, themethod comprising: extending, in response to predetermined conditions, afriction member from a bottom surface of the totem against thetouchscreen display, the friction member engaging against the display toresist movement of the totem across the touchscreen display; detecting,with a capacitive sensor, an end user proximity to the totem before anend user touch; and in response to detecting the proximity before theend user touch, retracting the friction member into the totem.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 further comprising: sensing accelerations at thetotem; and applying the sensed accelerations to adjust friction memberengagement against the touchscreen display to adapt to display tilt. 11.The method of claim 10 further comprising: detecting end user proximityto the totem with a proximity capacitance sensor; and starting theretracting of the friction member before the end user touch.
 12. Themethod of claim 9 further comprising: detecting removal of an end usertouch from the totem; and in response to the removal, extending thefriction member to engage against the touchscreen display.
 13. Themethod of claim 12 further comprising discarding inputs detected at thetouchscreen display after removal of the end user touch as unintendedmovements associated with the totem.
 14. The method of claim 13 furthercomprising: extending the friction member with a solenoid; andselectively extending plural friction members based upon accelerationsdetected at the totem.
 15. The method of claim 9 wherein detectingfurther comprises: extending the friction member with pressure appliedfrom a microfluidic reservoir; and adapting the surface area of thefriction member by varying the pressure based upon accelerationsdetected at the totem.
 16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:detecting a display angle that exceeds a predetermined threshold; and inresponse to detecting, issuing at warning at the touchscreen displayregarding unintended movement of the totem.
 17. An information handlingsystem totem input device comprising: a body having a bottom surfacethat interacts with a touchscreen display to make touch inputs at thetouchscreen display; one or more friction members disposed at the bottomsurface and configured to selectively extend and retract, the one ormore friction members when extended increasing frictional resistance tomovement of the body against the touchscreen display; and a capacitivesensor integrated in the body and configured to measure capacitance atthe body associated with end user touch, the capacitive sensorselectively extending and retracting the one or more friction membersbased at least in part on measured capacitance indicating end userproximity to the body before an end user touch.
 18. The informationhandling system totem input device of claim 17 further comprising: oneor more accelerometers integrated in the body and interfaced with thefriction members and capacitive sensor, the accelerometers configured tomeasure lateral accelerations at the body; wherein the friction membersextend by varied amounts based at least in part upon measured lateralaccelerations.